Where Florida Gators Go To Blog! This site is dedicated to the University of Florida Gator Fans. It is an open site to discuss and rehash the wins and losses and make plans toward the next National Championship! Here you will find truths, half truths, information and misinformation about the University of Florida Gators (P.S. This site endorses a 16-team playoff tournament in Division I college football.)

Pages

Monday, June 17, 2013

The Florida Gator

While we anticipate the upcoming gator football season, lets take a close look at our namesake, the Florida Alligator. A big shout out to Floridian Nature for providing the information!The
alligator is certainly Florida's most famous animal. When Spanish
settlers first saw the Alligator they named it "el lagarto",
meaning "the lizard". The Florida alligator is an ancient reptile that
is only found in the Southeastern United States, from Texas to as far
north as North Carolina. The only other species of alligator in the
world is found in China, but that one is much smaller and very rare.

Alligators, although not as abundant as they once were in Florida can be
found in virtually every freshwater body of water, including
lakes
rivers, ponds and even retention areas. Occasionally found in
brackish water around mangrove swamps, alligators can tolerate a
reasonable degree of salinity, though not to the degree of crocodiles.
In the Everglades, alligators
seek refuge during the dry season in "gator holes". After swimming, you
will often see an alligator sunning itself on the riverbanks, shores, or
even a large log. When a gator is swimming on the surface, only its head
and part of his back protrude above the water. While in this position
an alligator can breathe, see, hear, smell, and taste. Gators also spend
a lot of time submerged and can stay underwater for up to three hours at
a time. A gator swims with its legs tucked against its body, moving
forward quietly by sweeping its powerful tail from side to side. While
swimming in this manner, an alligator can quietly approach its prey,
looking more like a floating log than a dangerous reptile!

The Alligator has an armored black, lizard-like body, with muscular
tails and short stocky legs. They are fast predators on both land and
water, able to run as fast as 20 mph for short distances. The massive
jaws of the alligator's open mouth reveals 70-80 white pointed teeth,
designed to grasp, hold and crush its prey! The alligator snout is broad
with the edge of the upper jaw overlapping the teeth of the lower jaw.
The alligators silvery eyes sit back on the top of the head, and they
have excellent vision, even at night. Alligators Eyes will shine red
when you shine a light on them at night Alligators have two sets of
eyelids. One set is similar to humans, while the second set of eyelids
is transparent, allowing the gator to see clearly underwater. Florida
Gators also have a keen sense of smell. Adults generally take one of
two forms: long and thin or short and stocky. Female alligators rarely
exceed 9 feet in length, but males can grow much larger. The Florida
state record for length is a 14 foot 5/8 inch male, while the state
record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10 1/2 inches long) male.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders, and are often stealthy "sit and
wait" predators. Their diets include prey species that are abundant and
easily accessible. Alligators will eat just about anything, but
primarily consume fish, turtles, and snails. Small animals that come to
the water's edge to drink make easy prey for the voracious alligator.
Sometimes a hungry alligator will even resort to eating his own kind!
If a gator cannot swallow its prey whole, it pulls, twists and tears,
until gulp size chunks are torn off. With large prey such as
deer, the alligator performs the "gator
roll", pulling the victim underwater, and rolling with it until the
prey drowns.

Great Websites

Floridian Nature

Floridian Nature- Here you will find everything your are looking for in Florida nature. Our comprehensive website "Floridian Nature" provides illustrated information that is both interesting and easy to comprehend.

Michael Arnold Art

Simply Art-Simply all you need to appreciate visual art online

Gator Videos

Loading...

Watch Live NFL

Watch Live NFL
Our site covers up news, fixtures, and results for all events of American Football.